In the wake of the Food and Drug Administration banning Red Dye No. 3 from foods, dietary supplements and oral medications, many people are wondering: What products contain Red 3?
The Red 3 ban will not go into effect until early 2027 for food and early 2028 for drugs, according to the FDA. So it’s good to check the ingredient lists for the dye until then, experts say.
Research shows Red No. 3, which is used to give products a bright red hue, can cause cancer in animals, NBC News reported. Many food safety advocates have been concerned for decades about the substance’s presence in the U.S. food system.
“We’re thrilled that the FDA has finally taken action to remove this unneeded color additive for the market and in so doing has followed the clear dictates of the law,” Dr. Peter Lurie, president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), tells TODAY.com.
“In the absence of lobbying by the industry, I think we would all expect this product to have been banned decades ago,” he adds.
In a statement about the ban, the International Association of Color Manufacturers told NBC News that it “remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the highest safety standards. … Our members will continue to comply with FDA regulations.”
Did the FDA ban Red Dye 3?
Yes. The FDA said it is banning the use of Red Dye No. 3 due to evidence that the synthetic color additive can cause cancer in animals. But the additive will still be present in some foods sold in the U.S. in until early 2027 and in some drugs until early 2028.
The agency says that under a clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the FDA is not allowed to authorize any color additive “if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals.”
Jim Jones, the agency’s deputy director for human foods, said there is “evidence” of “cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red Dye No. 3” in a statement to NBC News.
Red Dye No. 3 has not been…
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